TITLE: United States Treasury Department Issues Venezuela-Related Sanctions Guidance
BODY:
On March 4, 2026, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued six new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing Venezuela-related sanctions matters. The FAQs, numbered 1239 to 1244, provide clarification on OFAC's Venezuela sanctions programme.
OFAC administers comprehensive sanctions programmes targeting Venezuela, including designations of individuals and entities on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and related economic restrictions. The issuance of these FAQs indicates OFAC's ongoing effort to provide guidance to regulated entities, financial institutions, and other stakeholders on compliance obligations under Venezuela sanctions regulations.
The FAQs address frequently encountered questions from the compliance community regarding the application and interpretation of Venezuela sanctions measures. This guidance is intended to assist entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction in understanding their obligations and avoiding violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and related sanctions authorities.
Entities conducting business with or involving Venezuela, Venezuelan nationals, or Venezuelan-origin goods should review the new FAQs to ensure continued compliance with OFAC requirements. The FAQs are available on OFAC's website alongside existing Venezuela sanctions guidance and the SDN List. Regulated entities should monitor OFAC's Recent Actions page for updates to Venezuela-related sanctions measures, including potential modifications to designations, general licences, or enforcement priorities.
REFERENCES:
Office of Foreign Assets Control, "Issuance of Venezuela-related Frequently Asked Questions," March 4, 2026, https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20260304